of the events which have transpired since our last meeting. Ibelieve you were aware that it was my intention shortly to visitJamaica. During the past week I have been bringing affairs to acrisis, and it is now finally arranged, that, should nothingintervene to the prevention of our plans, we sail for that island onor about the thirtieth of next month. This, of course, will precludethe possibility of meeting many more times; but I think we maypromise ourselves one farewell debate. I regret our separationprincipally on account of our little society, for it has been themeans of passing our evenings, not only agreeably, but profitably.Should our lives be spared, I trust we shall again assemble underthe same roof and again enjoy the advantages of each other'sresearches."

This news spread a gloom over the little party, for they could notcontemplate a separation from their kind friends without feelings ofdeep regret, and there were more tears than smiles in their usuallybright eyes.

Grandy looked from one young face to another: all wore the sameexpression. Thoughtful, sorrowful, and silent, they sat around thetable where they had enjoyed so many happy hours; and she, too, feltthat, although it is delightful to possess the affection of friends,yet too often that affection is the cause of much anxiety and deependuring sorrow.

A separation of 5000 miles was not a trifling cause of grief; but itwas a pity to tinge the next month of their existence withunavailing melancholy: it had been better that it had remained asecret, than to have caused such unhappiness to cloud their sereneand cheerful days; and Mrs. Wilton endeavored to make them view thematter in a brighter light. "At all events," she said, "we must notrender each other miserable, because we are called upon to exercisethis self-denial. It is wrong to waste in unavailing regrets thetime we have still to be together, and be gloomy and sad for a wholemonth. No! that cannot possibly improve our affairs, and will onlyunfit us for the performance of our duty, and increase our misery.Come, wipe away those glistening tears, my children, or they willfreeze on your cheeks; for, if I mistake not, we are supposed to besomewhere about the sixtieth parallel of south latitude, and thethermometer somewhat below Zero. Come, see who will find thesituation first. George, try what you can do."

The children commenced their search, and before George exclaimed"South Shetland, dear mamma!" every eye, although still dimmed withtears, was eagerly in quest of the desired parallel.

MRS. WILTON. "Right, George! I fear it will not be prudent toventure any further south, as we may encounter some ice-islands, forthere are several in this vicinity; but I should like to hear, ifany of you can tell me why Deception Isle (one of the South Shetlandgroup) is so called?"

DORA. "It is so called from its very exact resemblance to a ship infull sail, and has deceived many navigators. This island isinhabited only by penguins, sea-leopards, pintadors, and variouskinds of petrels. It is volcanic, apparently composed of alternatelayers of ashes and ice, as if the snow of each winter, during aseries of years, had been prevented from melting in the followingsummer by the ejection of cinders and ashes from some part wherevolcanic action is still in progress; and that such is the caseseems probable, from the fact of there being at least one hundredand fifty holes from which steam issues with a loud hissing noise,and which are, or were, visible from the top of one of the hillsimmediately above the small cone where Lieutenant Kendall's ship wassecured, to whom I am indebted for this information."

MRS. WILTON. "The only habitable islands near here are the SandwichIsles (not Captain Cook's) and Georgia; but they are neither large,numerous, nor important: we will, therefore, round the Cape andenter the Pacific Ocean."

DORA "According to Emma's chart we are to follow the coast, callingat as many of the islands as are worthy of notice; but, previously,here are the bays to be enumerated, and such a number of them! Icould scarcely have imagined it possible for any shores to be soindented."

EMMA. "I need not read all the names, as with your maps you can eachread for yourself; but the following are the largest: Gulf ofTrinidad. Gulf of Penas, Gulf of Ancud by the Island of Chiloe, andConception Bay on the coast of Chili."

MRS. WILTON. "Here is a part for me to play, I perceive. The nativesof the coast of the Gulf of Penas are descendants of theAraucanians, a warlike people, who, observing the great advantagesthe Europeans possessed from the use of gunpowder, tried in vain tolearn its composition. They saw negroes among the Spaniards, andbecause their color was supposed to resemble that of gunpowder, theyimagined they had discovered the long-wished-for secret. A poornegro was caught by them and burnt alive, in the full belief thatgunpowder would be obtained from his ashes."

GEORGE. "Poor man! what ignorant people they must be. Are we to stopat the Island of Chiloe?"

MR. BARRAUD. "Most certainly, as you will agree when you hear what Ihave to say. It lies near the south coast of Chili: its length is120 miles, average breadth 40 miles. It is mountainous and coveredwith cedar, which is exported in great quantities to Peru and Chili.The climate is healthy, but damp, as it rains ten months out of theyear. Money is here almost unknown, and traffic is conducted bybarter, or payment in indigo, tea, salt, or Cayenne pepper. Allthese articles are much valued, particularly the indigo for dyeingwoollens, for the weaving of which there is a loom in every house.According to Captain Blankley, the golden age would seem to berevived in this part of the world. 'Murders,' says he, 'robbery, orpersons being in debt, are never heard of: drunkenness is only knownor seen when European vessels are in port: not a private dwelling inthe towns or country has a lock on the doors, and the prison is indisuse.' The inhabitants are cheerful, and passionately fond ofmusic and dancing."

EMMA. "I think we had better remain at Chiloe: it must be adelightful place to live in, where all the inhabitants are soupright and honest."

MRS. WILTON. "Yes, my dear; but business must be attended to beforepleasure, and we are bound for Chili.

"Chili is an independent State, and includes the country of thosesame ignorant Araucanians; who, notwithstanding their attributedignorance, have proved themselves equal in some respects toEuropeans; for _they_ have tried in vain to subdue this warlike raceof men. The shores of Chili are mostly high, steep, and rocky. Thewhole country is extremely rich in metals: silver is there foundnearer the surface than in any other country. Nearly all the riverswash down gold and there are copper, lead, and even _coal_ mines.The Chilians are good potters, and make light, strong, earthenwarejars, which ring like metal. Chili is _specially_ subject toearthquakes; shocks are felt in some parts almost daily, and thecountry is continually desolated by them."

MR. WILTON. "The little island of Mocha on this coast was oncecelebrated as a resort of buccaneers, and thickly peopled; but itwas found deserted by Captain Strong in 1690; and appears to haveremained uninhabited since."

EMMA. "The most memorable island near our course is Juan Fernandez,110 miles from the coast. I ought rather to have said islands, forthere are two. The largest was discovered by a Spaniard in 1563, andhas been so much praised by early navigators, that it has beenthought an earthly paradise. Its chief advantages arises from itsbeing a good resting-place for ships. This island is calledMas-a-terra, because nearest the continent. There are many Spanishsettlers there, who have erected a battery, and built a town. Thesmaller island is generally called Mas-a-fuero, because further fromthe continent."

MR. WILTON. "Juan Fernandez has lately been taken on lease from theChilian Government, by an enterprising American, who has takenthither about 150 families of Tahitians, with the intention ofcultivating the land, rearing cattle, and so improving the port ofCumberland Bay, that it may become the resort of whalers, and othervessels navigating the Pacific Ocean."

CHARLES. "Oh! for the imagination of Daniel de Foe to conjure up thedelightful pictures of his Robinson Crusoe. The poet Cowper has donemuch towards handing the event down to posterity, in his touchingaccount of the feelings of the poor outcast when he found himself onthe desolate shore."

GEORGE. "Oh! you mean Alexander Selkirk's soliloquy. I think I canremember some of the verses:--

"' I am out of humanity's reach, I must finish my journey alone, Never hear the sweet music of speech, I start at the sound of my own. The beasts that roam over the plain My form with indifference bee; They're so unaccustomed to man, Their tameness is shocking to me.'

"'Religion I what treasure untold Resides in that heavenly word! More precious than silver or gold, Or all that this earth can afford; But the sound of the church-going bell, These valleys and rocks never heard, Ne'er sigh'd at the sound of a knell, Or smil'd when a sabbath appear'd."

"'Ye winds, that have made me your sport, Convey to this desolate shore, Some cordial, endearing report Of a land I shall visit no more. My friends--do they now and then send A wish or a thought after me? Oh! tell me I yet have a friend, Though a friend I am never to see!'"

EMMA. "A life of solitude must be very dreadful: we cannot conceivesuch an existence while surrounded by our dear friends, and all theluxuries of civilized life. How long was Alexander Selkirk on theisland?"

CHARLES. "Four years and four months, I believe."

DORA. "In sailing along the coast of Peru we must pass close toLima, its capital, which is a magnificent city. Like other Spanishcities of America it is laid out in quadras or squares of houses,and through the centre of nearly all the streets runs a stream ofwater three feet wide, which carries away a good portion of therefuse of the city."

MR. BARRAUD. "The ladies of Lima are celebrated for beauty andfineness of figure. They wear a very remarkable walking dress,peculiar to this city and Truxillo. It consists of two parts, onecalled the _saya_, the other the _manto_. The first is an elasticdress, fitting close to the figure down to the ankles; the other isan entire envelope, disclosing scarcely more than one eye to themost scrutinizing observer. A rich colored handkerchief or a silkband and tassel are frequently tied around the waist, and hangnearly to the ground in front."

MRS. WILTON. "The population of Peru consists principally ofIndians, Spaniards and Negroes. The first are represented bytravellers as in the lowest stage of civilization, without anydesire for the comforts of civilized life, immersed in sloth andapathy, from which they can rarely be roused, except when they havean opportunity of indulging to excess in ardent spirits, of whichthey are excessively fond. They are dirty in the extreme, seldomtaking off their clothes even to sleep, and still more rarely usingwater. Their habitations are miserable hovels, destitute of everyconvenience and disgustingly filthy."

MR. WILTON. "The Peruvians had at one time a curious contrivance forcrossing their rivers. They did not know how to make a bridge ofwood or stone; but necessity, the parent of invention, supplied thatdefect. They formed cables of great strength, by twisting togethersome of the pliable withes or osiers with which their countryabounds; six of these cables they stretched across the streamparallel to one another, and made them fast on each side; these theybound firmly together, by inter-weaving smaller ropes so close as toform a compact piece of net-work, which being covered with branchesof trees and earth, they passed along it with tolerable security.Proper persons were appointed to attend to each bridge, to keep itin repair, and to assist passengers."

GEORGE. "Almost as clever a contrivance as the bridge of the presentday, although neither so strong nor durable. They were a perseveringpeople."

EMMA. "The Gulf of Guayaquil is so called from a river of this namewhich is famous for its shifting sand-banks, on which as the waterrecedes alligators are left in great numbers. The Bay of Choco is onthe same coast (Columbia), and is the scene of continual storms. Thegreatest riches in washed gold are deposited in the provinces ofChoco. The largest piece found there weighed twenty-five pounds; butthis country, so rich in gold, is at the same time scourged withcontinual famine."

GRANDY. "Proving that gold is only valuable as the means ofprocuring the necessaries of life, and enabling its possessor tobenefit his fellow-creatures. 'Whoso seeth his brother have need,and shutteth up his compassion, how dwelleth the love of God inhim?' The people here value not the gold, for it is unable to buythem freedom from the awful scourge."

DORA. "Emma, the Bay of Choco is on the coast of Granada, which,although it is a district of Columbia, is large enough to beregarded with some attention, particularly as it is actually one ofthe three great divisions of Columbia."

CHARLES. "Nearly in the same latitude, just over the equator, arethe Galapagos. They are pretty islands: the cactus and aloe coverthe sides of the rocks, flamingoes and turtle-doves fill the air,and the beach is covered with enormous turtle. But no trace whateverindicates the residence of man, and I believe no man has ever landedon these lonely shores."

MRS. WILTON. "Columbia abounds in stupendous natural wonders;amongst the rest are the natural bridges of Iconongo, not far fromBogota; the fall of Tequendama, the loftiest cataract; and the Sillade Caracas, the loftiest cliff yet discovered. The climate is hotand unhealthy, and the country subject to earthquakes. It isinhabited by Indians, Spaniards, and Negroes. The Caribs are theruling Indian tribe; they are tall, of a reddish copper-color, withdark intelligent eyes, and a grave expression of features. Theyraise the flesh of their legs and thighs in long stripes, and shavemost of the hair from their heads, but do not flatten the forehead,as is customary with the other tribes along the Orinoco. Columbia isa country of great natural riches, but suffered to lie for the mostpart waste, for the people are naturally indolent; and Captain Hallremarks, that the Columbian who can eat beef and plantains, andsmoke cigars as he swings in his hammock, is possessed of almosteverything his habits qualify him to enjoy, or which his ambitionprompts him to attain."

MR. BARRAUD. "Along this coast many of the inhabitants subsist asfishermen; and the Indians of Cartago have a singular method ofcatching wild-fowl, which may here be noticed:--They leavecalabashes continually floating on the water that the birds may beaccustomed to the sight of them. When they wish to catch any ofthese wild-fowl, they go into the water with their heads coveredeach with a calabash, in which they make two holes for seeingthrough; they then swim towards the birds, throwing a handful ofmaize on the water from time to time, the grains of which scatteron the surface. The birds approach to feed on the maize, and at themoment the swimmer seizes them by the feet, pulls them under water,and wrings their necks before they can make the least movement, or,by their noise, spread an alarm among the flock. Many families aresupported in this way by disposing of the birds thus caught at a lowprice in the markets."

EMMA. "The next bay is Panama, in which are the Gulf of St. Michaeland Gulf of Parita. There are several islands here, but the largestis Rey Isle. The Gulf of Dolce runs into Costa Rica, and so does theGulf of Nicoya: and the little bays about here must not detain us."

MRS. WILTON. "San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica. There are nofine buildings in this city, and the churches are inferior to manyerected by the Spaniards in the smallest villages. Nevertheless, thewhole place exhibits a business like appearance, much more so thanmost cities in this lethargic part of the world. In Costa Rica is avolcanic mountain, Cartago (now quiet), from the top of which thetraveller can view the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at one glance. Ina right line over the tops of the mountains, neither is more thantwenty miles distant, and from the great height from which they areseen they appear to be almost at the traveller's feet. It is theonly point in the world which commands a view of the two Oceans."

GRANDY. "I remember a touching description of a funeral in SanJose, which will not be out of place here:--

"'While Mr. Stephens (the author of several delightful books) wasstanding in a corridor of his friend's house, a man passed with achild in his arms. He was its father, and with a smile on his facewas carrying it to its grave. He was followed by two boys playing onviolins, and others were laughing around. The child was dressed inwhite, with a wreath of roses around its head; and as it lay in itsfather's arms, it did not seem dead but sleeping. The grave was notquite ready, and the boys sat on the heap of dirt thrown out, andplayed their violins until it was finished. The father then laid thechild carefully in its final resting-place, with its head to therising sun, folded its little hands across its breast, and closedits fingers around a small wooden crucifix; and it seemed, as theythought it was, happy at escaping the troubles of an uncertainworld. There were no tears shed; on the contrary, all were cheerful;and though it appeared heartless, it was not because the father didnot love his child, but because he and all his friends had beentaught to believe, and were firm in the conviction, that, taken awayso young, it was transferred immediately to a better world. Thefather sprinkled a handful of dirt over its face; the grave-diggertook his shovel; in a few moments the little grave was filled up,and, preceded by the boys playing on their violins, they departed.'"

MRS. WILTON. "There is a spirit of thankfulness evinced in thatfather's conduct which requires great faith. I fear none of uswould be found to possess as much under such a trial, for the spiritis, unhappily, at most times under the dominion of the flesh."

GEORGE. "Is not Papagayo Bay close to the Lake of Nicaragua?"

EMMA. "It is only divided from the Ocean by a portion of thedistrict of Nicaragua. It is a great lake, ninety five miles long,and thirty broad, and is navigable for ships of the largest class."

DORA. "It is covered with beautiful and populous islands, and two ofthem--viz. Isola and Madeira--contain burning mountains. The largestvolcano--Omotepeque--always continues burning, and reminds one ofMount Etna rising from the water's edge, a smooth unbroken cone tothe height of nearly 1000 feet. The waters of this lake descend bythe river St. John towards the Atlantic; but there is no outlet intothe Pacific Ocean."

GEORGE. "I should like to know why the Pacific is so called?"

[Illustration: THE EARTHQUAKE]

CHARLES. "I can tell you, George. In the year 1520, when Magellanwas on his way to the Spice Islands (the Moluccas, you know), he andthe crew suffered dreadful privations: they were nearly four monthsat sea without discovering land. Their stock of provisions wasalmost exhausted, the water became putrid, and in consequence thepoor men were attacked with that horrible disease the scurvy. Theonly source of consolation, under these troubles, was theuninterrupted fair weather they enjoyed, and the favorable windswhich wafted them gently onward; so that Magellan was induced tocall the Ocean Pacific: hence the origin of its name."

GEORGE. "Thank you, Charles. How pleasant it is to get all theinformation we require, without the trouble of searching in greatdusty books. Now, Emma, will it please you to travel onward?"

EMMA. "What, George! Have you, too, caught the mania, that you arein such a hurry to get to California?"

GEORGE. "Not to go gold-hunting, indeed; but the Rocky Mountains areup in the north, and I have a story about them."

EMMA. "Well, to oblige you and ourselves too, we will proceed. TheGulfs of Fonseca and Conchagua are deep indentations, about themiddle of the coast of Guatemala, to which country Costa Ricabelongs."

MRS. WILTON. "The city of Guatemala was founded in 1776. It issituated on table-land, 5000 feet above the sea and enjoys adelicious climate,--literally, a perpetual spring. Beautifulchurches and buildings adorn this city; but the houses are builtonly one story high, in order more effectually to resist the actionof earthquakes; for you must know this city has close to it twoburning mountains--Fuego and Agua, which prove the volcanic natureof the earth. Among all the phenomena of nature few appear to beattended with such horrible consequences as earthquakes. Thousands,who in one moment are full of busy life, are, the next, swallowed upas if they had never existed, or crushed to death by fragments offalling buildings. In _six minutes_, by the great earthquake ofLisbon, in 1755, sixty thousand souls were launched into eternity;and though none in this city have equalled in destructiveness thegreat one at Lisbon, yet Guatemala has been several times nearlydestroyed by earthquakes, combined with the eruptions of theneighboring volcanoes."

MR. BARRAUD. "The inhabitants are mostly of Spanish origin;consequently, mostly Roman Catholics; and a recent traveller saysthat from the moment of his arrival, he was struck with the devoutappearance of the city of Guatemala. At matins and vespers, thechurches were all open, and the people, particularly the women, wentregularly to prayers. Every house had its figure of the Virgin, theSaviour, or some tutelary saint, and on the door were billets ofpaper with prayers. You will be surprised to hear that nearly allthe ladies in Central America smoke. The married ladies smoke_puros_, or all tobacco; the unmarried ladies smoke _cigars_, ortobacco wrapped in paper or straw."

DORA. "What an odd indulgence for a lady! In England, ladies neversmoke; although I must say I have often seen poor women with pipesin their mouths, and thought what a dirty habit it was."

MRS. WILTON. "It is the custom of the country, and were you aSpanish lady, Dora, I have no doubt you would enjoy a cigar as muchas any of the senoritas. We shall next see the shore of Mexico. Whatgulfs must we pass to accomplish this?"

EMMA. "Only the Gulf of Tehuantepec which is worth noticing."

MRS. WILTON. "Mexico has been travelled over already; so we willpass on to the Gulf of California."

GEORGE. "But is there not a place called New Mexico?"

DORA. "Yes, but not near the coast: however, I will tell you all Iknow about it. It is mostly inhabited by Christian Indians, of whomthere are no fewer than thirty villages. They are of various tribes,but all trained to industrial habits, and are in every respect aworthy set of people. Their clothing is the skin of wild goats;their women wear mantles of cotton or wool. Their mode of travellingis on horseback, and the only access to their huts, which aresquare, with open galleries on the top, is by a ladder, which isremoved during the night."

CHARLES. "Robinson Crusoe fashion, I presume?"

DORA. "Exactly. 'Now we are in front of the entrance to SanFrancisco Bay. The mountains on the northern side are 3000 feet inheight, and come boldly down to the sea As the view opens throughthe splendid strait, three or four miles in width, the island rockof Alcatraz appears, gleaming white in the distance. At last we arethrough the Golden Gate--fit name for such a magnificent portal tothe commerce of the Pacific. The Bay is crowded with the shipping ofthe world, and the flags of all nations are fluttering in thebreeze.'[15] Before us lies the grand emporium of the GoldRegion--a city which has well nigh realized the extravagance of theArabian Nights Entertainments. As if by the touch of a magic wand,what was five years ago a little Indian village is now a large andflourishing city, which is increasing at a prodigious rate. Fromevery nation and people and clime, emigrants have been pressing toit in pursuit of the precious metal. The golden sands of California,with their brilliant glitter, have attracted thousands uponthousands from every land--and there is now arising on the fardistant shores of the Pacific a great Empire destined to exert amighty influence in the affairs of the world. The glowing prospectwhich the success of the first adventurers had created, soon drew toher shores the energy and enterprise of the nations of both Europeand America. 'Around the curving shore of the Bay and upon the sidesof three hills, which rise steeply from the water, the middle onereceding so as to form a bold amphitheatre, the town is planted andseems scarcely yet to have taken root, for tents, canvass, plank,mud and adobe houses are mingled together with the least apparentattempt at order and durability.' However, the appearance of thecity is fast improving--for churches and schools and publicbuildings are springing up on every side, and substantial edificesare fast taking the place of the more temporary erections. Thesudden rush or so many people to one point, and many of them poorlyprovided, combined with the abundance of the gold, caused provision,rents, and labor to rise to enormous prices. A tent for instance,called Eldorado, fifteen by twenty feet, occupied mostly by gamblersbrought the enormous yearly rent of $40,000. 'Miners' Bank,' used byWright & Co., brokers, about half the size of a fire-engine house,was held at a rent of $75,000. A gentleman who wished to find a lawoffice, was shown a cellar in the earth, about twelve feet squareand six feet deep, which he could have at $250 _per month_. One ofthe common soldiers at the battle of San Pasquale was reputed to beamong the millionaires of the place, and had an income of fiftythousand dollars monthly.

[Footnote 15: J. Bayard Taylor's 'Eldorado.']

"The prices paid for labor were in proportion to everything else.The carman of Mellus Howard & Co., had a salary of $6000 a year, andmany others made from fifteen to twenty dollars daily. Servants werepaid from a hundred to two hundred dollars a month. This state ofthings, as might have been expected, did not long continue, for allthings soon find their level, and the rapid importation of produce,materials and laborers, had soon the effect of lowering the pricesto a fair and ordinary scale.

"California territory belongs to the United States of North America,and will, doubtless, in a short time, form several distinct statesin that already powerful confederacy."

MR. WILTON. "Now, George, we have arrived at the Gulf ofGeorgia;--you will not have very far to travel to the RockyMountains."

CHARLES. "The Gulf of Georgia is very considerable: it dividesQuadra or Vancouver's Island from the continent, and communicateswith the Pacific to the south by Claaset's Straits, and to the northby Queen Charlotte's Sound. Quadra is a large island, and I thinkbetter known by the name of Nootka Sound, which is at the south endof the island, and contains an English establishment."

MRS. WILTON. "The natives of Nootka Sound are not an interestingpeople, and are greatly inferior to the other tribes inhabiting thecontinent. They are short, plain-looking people, not unlike theEsquimaux. Their ordinary dress consists of a mantle edged with furat the top, and fringed at the bottom, which is made out of the barkof the pine, beaten into fibres. Their food is mostly drawn from thesea. Large stores of fish are dried and smoked, and the roes,prepared like caviare, form their winter bread. They drink fish-oil,and mix it with their food. The women go fishing occasionally, andare as skilful as the men; but their usual occupation is withindoors, preparing the fabric of which their garments are composed.Captain Cook, in speaking of their houses, says: 'They are as filthyas hog-sties,--everything in and about them stinking of fish,train-oil, and smoke.'"

GEORGE. "I shall have to travel upwards of 600 miles to tell mystory; but, as truth is worth seeking, I do not mind the trouble: sohere it is:--

#Story of Boone and the Bear.#

"A young man named Boone, son of the mighty American hunter, made asettling amongst the Rocky Mountains, and when his hut was erectedhe used to leave it for days, out on hunting expeditions. One night,after returning from one of these enterprises, he retired to rest onhis solitary pallet. The heat was intense, and, as usual in thesecountries during summer, he had left his door wide open. It wasabout midnight, when he was awakened by the noise of somethingtumbling in the room: he rose in a moment, and hearing a short andheavy breathing, he asked who it was, for the darkness was such thathe could not see two yards before him. No answer being given, excepta kind of half smothered grunt, he advanced,--and, putting out hishand, he seized the shaggy coat of a BEAR! Surprise rendered himmotionless; and the animal, giving him a blow on the chest with histerrible paw, threw him down outside the door. Boone could haveescaped, but, maddened with the pain of his fall, he only thought ofvengeance,--and, seizing his knife and tomahawk, which werefortunately within his reach, he darted furiously at the beast,dealing blows at random. Great as was his strength, his tomahawkcould not penetrate through the thick coat of the animal, which,having encircled the body of his assailant with his paws, waspressing him in one of those deadly embraces which could only havebeen resisted by a giant like Boone (who was six feet nine inchesin height and proportionably strong). Fortunately, the Black bear,unlike the Grizzly, very seldom uses his claws and teeth infighting, contenting himself with smothering his victim. Boonedisentangled his left arm, and with his knife dealt a furious blowupon the snout of the animal, which, smarting with pain, releasedhis hold. The snout is the only vulnerable part in an old blackbear. Even at forty yards, the ball of a rifle will flatten againsthis skull, and if in any other part of the body it will scarcelyproduce any serious effect. Boone, aware of this, and not daring torisk another hug, darted away from the cabin. The bear, now quiteangry, followed and overtook him near the fence. Fortunately, theclouds were clearing away, and the moon threw light sufficient toenable the hunter to strike with a more certain aim: he found alsoon the ground one of the rails, made of the blue ash, very heavy,and ten feet in length; he dropped his knife and tomahawk, and,seizing the rail, he renewed the fight with caution, for it had nowbecome a struggle for life or death.

"Had it been a bull or a panther, they would have had their bonesshivered to pieces by the tremendous blows which Boone dealt uponhis adversary with all the strength of despair; but Bruin is bynature an admirable fencer, and, in spite of his unwieldy shape,there is not in the world an animal whose motions are more rapid ina close encounter. Once or twice he was knocked down by the force ofthe blows, but generally he would parry them with a wonderfulagility. At last he succeeded in seizing the other end of the rail,and dragged it towards him with irresistible force. Both man andbeast fell, Boone rolling to the place where he had dropped hisarms, while the bear advanced upon him. The moment was a criticalone; but Boone was accustomed to look at and brave death under everyshape,--and, with a steady hand, he buried the tomahawk in the snoutof his enemy, and, turning round, he rushed to his cabin, believinghe would have time to secure the door. He closed the latch, andapplied his shoulders to it; but it was of no avail: the terriblebrute dashed in head foremost, and tumbled into the room, with Booneand the fragments of the door. The two foes rose and stared at eachother. Boone had nothing left but his knife; but Bruin was totteringand unsteady, and Boone felt that the match was more equal. Oncemore they closed.

"A few hours after sunrise a friend called at the hut,--and, to hishorror, found Boone apparently lifeless on the floor, and alongsideof him the body of the bear. Boone soon recovered, and found thatthe timely blow which had saved him from being crushed to death hadburied the whole blade of his knife through the left eye, in thevery brain of the huge animal."

CHARLES. "That is a spirited story, and very well told, George. Ishould not like to have been Mr. Boone in such a situation, althoughhe was a 'mighty hunter;' a bear is an ugly animal to embrace."

DORA. "Yes; and, lest we should meet with any, we will leave theRocky Mountains and go on to the north of Quadra, where are situatedKing George's Archipelago and the Admiralty Isles. The inhabitantsof the former bear some resemblance to the Esquimaux. The women wearan extraordinary kind of ornament, which gives them the appearanceof having two mouths: it consists of a small piece of wood, whichthey force into the flesh below the under lip."

MR. BARRAUD. "Those are Norfolk Sound people; but they are a kindlyrace, notwithstanding their outrageous customs; and, to show you howreadily they are affected for good or evil, I will relate acircumstance which happened when Captain Cleveland was trading withthem. A canoe containing eleven persons went alongside his vessel,and raised the screens at the port-holes, to look in on the deck.Before the captain had time to speak to them, the cook (either byaccident or design) threw a ladleful of hot water over them, whichcausing an involuntary and sudden motion of their bodies to theother side of the boat, immediately upset, and all were immersed inthe water. The confusion was then very great,--as those who at thetime were under the stern, engaged in traffic, fearing sometreachery, made haste to paddle away, without regarding the distressof their comrades. All of these, however, appeared to be capable oftaking care of themselves; excepting an infant of about a year old,whose struggles being observed by one of the mates, he jumpedoverboard and saved it. The weather was very raw and chilly: thecaptain had the child dried and warmed by the fire, then wrapped itin a blanket, gave it a piece of sugar, and returned it to itsparents, who were exceedingly pleased and grateful; and, as soon asall had recovered from the effects of their immersion, theirbusiness (which was trading for skins of various kinds) wasconducted throughout the day to the mutual satisfaction of allparties."

MR. WILTON. "As these islands are near the coast of Columbia, I wishto inform you that here there is an excellent harbor and a navyyard, to which ships of the largest tonnage may ascend. The yardcovers a space of thirty-seven acres, and in it are made nearly allthe anchors, cables, and blocks required for the service of theUnited States' Navy, which, although inconsiderable in point ofnumerical strength, is perhaps the best organized and most effectivein the world. The unexpected success of their frigates in contestswith British vessels of the same class has established thereputation of the American navy for skill and prowess in the eyes ofEurope; and the United States, with comparatively few ships, alreadyrank high as a naval power."

EMMA. "We now pass Admiralty Bay, go through Cook's Inlet, out bythe Straits of Chilogoff, round by the Aleutian Isles into BristolBay."

MRS. WILTON. "The Aleutian Isles are very numerous, principallyvolcanic: the three largest are Bhering's, Attoo, and Onolaska. Thenatives are of a dark brown complexion, and the women disfigurethemselves by cutting an aperture in the under lip, to which varioustrinkets are suspended. Their subsistence is principally obtained byhunting and fishing. The seal is particularly valuable to them,affording a constant supply of food and clothing. Their dwellingsare spacious excavations in the earth, roofed over with turf, asmany as 150 individuals sometimes residing in the differentdivisions."

GEORGE. "Must we go through Bhering's Straits: they will take usinto such very cold regions?"

EMMA. "We must not mind the cold if we can learn anything by going;but, as you are afraid of venturing so far, we will leave you atPoint Hope, while we make our way to Point Barrow."

CHARLES. "Appear not at Point Hope. George; for if you do, you mustnever hope to see us again. Do you know that the Indians who live inthe mountains not far from the Point are cannibals, and would seizeyou for a delicious morsel? They are not at all particular folks;and when there is a scarcity of food among them, they cast lots forvictims, and eat their relations without the slightest remorse."

MR. BARRAUD. "The fierce and savage propensities of these mountainIndians have been circumstantially described by an old man, who,while yet a stripling, fled from the tribe, and joined himself toanother tribe called Dog Ribs, in consequence of his finding hismother, on his return from a successful day's hunting, employed inroasting the body of her own child, his youngest brother!"

Mr. WILTON. "It is a long spit of land composed of sand and gravel.When Captain Simpson was on an exploring expedition in the PolarSeas, he landed there, and one of the first objects that presenteditself was an immense cemetery. There, the miserable remnants ofhumanity lay on the ground, in the seal-skin dresses worn whenalive. A few were covered with an old sledge, or some pieces ofwood, but far the greater number were exposed to the voracity ofdogs and wild animals. The inhabitants of this Point are Esquimaux."

EMMA. "Bhering's Straits divide the Old from the New Continent, andthe water to the south beyond the Gulf of Anadir is called Bhering'sor Kamtschatka Sea, and washes the shores of Kamtschatka."

MRS. WILTON. "Kamtschatka is a portion of Asia, about the same sizeas Great Britain. It is a cold, foggy country, and subject to suddenstorms of snow and sleet, which the natives call '_poorgas_,' andwhen overtaken by one they do not attempt to travel through it, butsuffer the snow to bury them and their dogs, and as soon as it isover, they extricate themselves as well as they can. The nativescomprising the two tribes of the Kamtschatdales and Koriaks differprincipally in their mode of life. They are all of low stature, andnot remarkable for their beauty. They are shy, averse to strangers,but honest, and extremely hospitable. They dwell in fixedhabitations, although hunters and fishers; but their dwellings arelow, comfortless, and filthy, sunk in the ground in the wintermonths, and raised on posts during summer to facilitate the curingof fish, which are hung up on lines to dry. In travelling, they usedogs harnessed to a sledge instead of horses."

DORA. "We are now to leave the coasts, and sail about in search ofthe islands in the Pacific Ocean; and, as we happen to be above theequator, we can more conveniently see those of the North Pacific. Wehave each selected our favorite isles for description, and Charlesis at the head of the catalogue."

MRS. WILTON. "To make our remarks better understood, we will, likescientific geographers, class all these islands under the head ofPolynesia, for the term is applied to the numerous groups, bothabove and below the equator, in the Pacific Ocean. The equatorforming a dividing line between North and South Polynesia. SirFrancis Drake was the first English captain to whom appertained thehonor of sailing on the Pacific Ocean.

"'The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; He was the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.'"[16]

[Footnote 16: Coleridge]

CHARLES. "The Sandwich Islands appear to me one of the mostinteresting groups, although the most isolated of all in NorthPolynesia. They are ten in number,--eight inhabited,--and were namedby their discoverer, Captain Cook, in honor of the Earl of Sandwich,a minister who had warmly promoted his labors. The island of Owyhee,or more properly Hawaii, is the largest, being 415 miles incircumference. It obtained a celebrity, as the scene of CaptainCook's death, who was killed by the natives on the 14th of February,1779. A celebrity of a different kind now awaits it, as the focus ofcivilization in Polynesia. The inhabitants have, with the assistanceof the English and Americans, built twenty merchant-ships, withwhich they perform voyages to the north-west coast of America, andeven visit Canton. They used to sacrifice human victims, but werenever cannibals; they tattoo their bodies, and the women tattoo thetips of their tongues. Hawaii contains a tremendous volcano, the topof which is 16,000 feet above the level of the sea. The wholeisland, indeed, is one complete mass of lava. Christianity wasintroduced by the American missionaries in 1820, and is now thereligion of the state. Schools have been established, and churchesbuilt. Honoruru, in the Island of Cahu, is the capital of the group.Some of the houses are built of stone; but the natives still preferliving in their huts, so that the town is grotesquely irregular. Theprincipal public building is the English school, where children ofboth sexes are taught to read and write. The place is altogether ina flourishing condition, and so advanced in the refinements of life,that the news-paper, lately established in the town, sets forth thefollowing articles for sale:--'Ladies' shoes from Paris, Ices, andEau de Cologne.'"

GRANDY. "It is a great cause for thankfulness, that religion isspreading her benign influence over these volcanic isles. The womenwho, truly speaking, were the most callous and obdurate, haveexhibited bright and numerous proofs of that change of heart, whichis the single end and aim of pure Christianity. Kekupuhe, who inCook's days was one of the wives of the king of Hawaii, evinced thesincerity of her conversion, which took place in 1828, by learningto read when she was more than eighty years of age, and by inditinghymns in honor of the God of her old age."

GEORGE. "I cannot understand why they killed Captain Cook; and Ihave never read the account of his first visit to the SandwichIslands: have you, Charles?"

CHARLES. "Yes, and a very interesting account it is. On the firstappearance of the English ships, the chiefs and priests, taking themfor floating islands, imagined that their long-expected guardianspirit, 'Etuah Orono,' was arrived. Hence Captain Cook was receivedwith honor approaching to adoration, as they imagined him to betheir 'Orono.' The king was absent at the time of his arrival; butthe chief priest and his son received the captain. Scarcely were theships anchored, when a priest went on board, and decorating Cookwith a red cloth, such as adorned their deities, offered him a pigin the manner of a sacrifice, and pronounced a long harangue. Theychanted hymns before him, and priests, bearing wands, preceded himon his landing, while the in habitants prostrated themselves on theground, as he walked from the beach to the village."

GEORGE. "But if they held him in such reverence, how was it theykilled him?"

MR. WILTON. "His own imprudence brought about his melancholy end.Some time after his arrival, it appears, that one of his smallerboats was stolen by some of the natives, for the sake of the nailsin her, and was broken up the very night it was stolen. CaptainCook, angry at losing his boat, attempted to get the king on boardhis ship, to confine him there, until the boat should be restored.This caused a tumult, and in the tumult, Captain Cook was slain.There certainly was no malice in the case,--not the slightestintention of injuring him; and his body was treated in the samemanner as those of their own chiefs, the bones being assigned todifferent Eries (chiefs), who, either from affection, or from anidea of good luck attending them, desired to preserve them. Longafter Captain Cook's death, the natives believed he would re-appear,and perhaps punish them for their breach of hospitality."

MR. BARRAUD. "They are a most interesting people; and, to prove toyou how they have advanced in civilization, I will give you twoinstances of their mode of living and taking their meals. Fortyyears ago, the Rev. Mr. Stewart, being then on a mission, visited achief, and, when he entered the apartment, one of his queens wasseated on the ground _a la Turc_, with a large wooden tray in herlap. Upon this a monstrous cuttle-fish had just been placed, freshfrom the sea, and in all its life and vigor. The queen had taken itup with both hands, and brought its body to her mouth, and, by asingle application of her teeth, the black blood with which it wasfilled gushed over her face and neck, while the long sucking arms ofthe fish, in the convulsive paroxysm of the operation, were twistingand writhing about her head, like the snaky hairs of a Medusa.Occupied as both hands were, she could only give her visitor a nod.Mr. Stewart remarks, 'It was the first time I had seen her Majesty,and I soon took my departure, leaving her, as I found her, in thefull enjoyment of her luxurious luncheon.' Now,--observe thecontrast. In 1841, Sir George Simpson and friends visited a chief.They were received in an immense apartment: several white personswere there to meet them: all the rules of etiquette were observed ongoing to table. The chiefs were all handsomely attired, theirclothes fitting to a hair's breadth, for they had imported a tailorfrom England to make them. The dining-room was handsomely furnished,and lighted with elegant lamps. The dinner was excellent, with finepastry and preserves from every country, and the glass and plate onthe table would have been admired even in a London mansion. Thechiefs, especially the host, were men of excellent address, and,adds Sir George Simpson, 'we soon forgot that we were sipping ourcoffee in a country which is deemed uncivilized, and amongindividuals who are classed with savages. There were but fewincongruities in the course of the evening's entertainment, such ascould at all mar the effect, excepting that one of the chiefsfrequently inquired, with much solicitude, whether or not we thoughthis whiskers handsome.' In conclusion, he says, 'After chatting agood deal, and smoking a few cigars, we took our leave, highlygratified with the hospitality and courtesy of the governor and hisfriends'."

DORA. "It must have been a work of time to convert these people; fortheir belief in the power of their idols was so strong, and had beenpreserved through so many generations."

GRANDY. "The work was of God, my dear, and he made it to prosper.Civilization once introduced, the way to Christianity was paved; andthe chiefs with their wives setting the example, the mission wassoon full of hopes for the future. The great women of the islands,when converted themselves, endeavored to propagate the truths of theGospel; and amongst them, one of the most justly celebratedChristians was Kapiolani. She wished to undeceive the nativesconcerning their false gods; and knowing in what veneration Peli,the goddess of the volcano, was held, she determined to climb themountain, descend into the crater, and by thus braving the volcanicdeities in their very homes, convince the inhabitants that God isGod alone, and that the false and subordinate deities existed onlyin the fancies of their ignorant adorers. Thus determined, andaccompanied by a missionary, she, with part of her family, and anumber of followers, both of her own vassals, and those of otherchiefs, ascended Peli. At the edge of the first precipice thatbounds the sunken plain, many of her followers and companions lostcourage and turned back: at the second, the rest earnestly entreatedher to desist from her dangerous enterprise, and forbear to temptthe powerful gods of the fires. But she proceeded; and, on the veryverge of the crater, caused a hut to be constructed for herself andpeople. Here she was assailed anew by their entreaties to returnhome; and their assurances, that, if she persisted in violating thedwellings of the goddess, she would draw on herself, and those withher, certain destruction. Her answer was noble:--'I will descendinto the crater,' said she; 'and if I do not return safe, thencontinue you to worship Peli; but, if I come back unhurt, you mustlearn to adore the God who created Peli.' She accordingly went downthe steep and difficult side of the crater, accompanied by amissionary, and by some whom love or duty induced to follow her.Arrived at the bottom, she thrust a stick into the liquid lava, andstirred the ashes of the burning lake. The charm of superstition wasat that moment broken. Those who had expected to see the goddess,armed with flames and sulphurous smoke, burst forth and destroy thedaring heroine who thus braved her, in her very sanctuary, wereawe-struck when they saw the fire remain innocuous, and the flamesroll harmless, as though none were present. They acknowledged thegreatness of the God of Kapiolani; and from that time few indeedhave been the offerings, and little the reverence paid to the firesof Peli."

CHARLES. "What delightful anecdotes concerning my island! but I haveone reserved for the conclusion, which illustrates the truth of theassertion, that the women of the Sandwich Islands are superior tothe men in many exercises requiring skill, and also in their powersof endurance. The latter quality may, I believe, be fairly adjudgedto the women of all countries. 'A man and his wife, both Christians,were passengers in a schooner, which foundered at a considerabledistance from the land. All the natives on board promptly tookrefuge in the sea; and the man in question, who had just celebrateddivine service in the ill-fated vessel, called his fellows (some ofthem being converts as well as himself) around him, to offer upanother tribute of praise and supplication from the deep; exhortingthem, with a combination of courage and humility rarely equalled, toworship God in that universal temple, under whose restless pavementhe and most of his hearers were destined to find their graves. Itwas done: they called on God from the midst of the waves, and theneach struggled to save the life they valued. The man and his wifehad each succeeded in procuring the support of a covered bucket byway of a buoy; and away they struck with the rest for Kahoolawe,finding themselves next morning alone in the ocean, after a wholeafternoon and night of privation and toil. To aggravate theirmisfortunes, the wife's bucket went to pieces soon after daylight,so that she had to make the best of her way without assistance orrelief; and, in the course of the second afternoon, the man becametoo weak to proceed; till his wife, to a certain extent, restoredhis strength by shampooning him in the water. They had now Kahoolawein full view after having been about four-and-twenty hours on theirdreary voyage. In spite, however, of the cheering sight, the managain fell into such a state of exhaustion, that the woman took hisbucket for herself, giving him at the same time the hair of her headas a towing-line; and, when even this exertion proved too much forhim, the faithful creature, after trying in vain to rouse him toprayer, took his arms round her neck, holding them together with onehand, and making with the other for the shore When a very triflingdistance remained to be accomplished, she discovered that he wasdead, and dropping his corpse she reached the land before night,having swam upwards of twenty-five miles during an exposure ofthirty hours! The only means of resting from her fatigue being byfloating on the top of the water."

MR. WILTON. "Very good, Charles; but if our notes of all the otherislands in Polynesia be as extensive as those of the Sandwich Isles,I fear we shall not cross the equator before midnight."

EMMA. "I can soon quiet your fears, dear papa; for the descriptionof the remaining isles in North Polynesia rests with the eldermembers, and of course they are at liberty to abridge them if theyplease."

MR. WILTON. "In that case I will undertake to run over the Ladrones,sometimes called the Marianne Isles. There are twenty of them; butonly five are inhabited, and they lie in the south extremity of thecluster. They are so close together, and so broken and irregular intheir form and position, as to appear like fragments disjointed fromeach other, at remote periods, by some sudden convulsion of nature.The coasts consist for the most part of dark brown rocks,honey-combed in many places by the action of the waves. The islandsare fertile, abounding in hogs, cattle, horses, mules, and manyother agreeable things; while in order that, like other countries inthis sublunary world, they may lay claim to a portion ofdisagreeables, they are infested with mosquitoes and endlessvarieties of loathsome insects; and the fish that are found aroundthe coasts are not fit for food. So much for the country--now forthe natives:--They are tall, robust, and active; the men wearscarcely any covering, and the women only a petticoat of matting.Both sexes stain their teeth black, and many of them tattoo theirbodies. The Ladrone Islands were originally discovered by Magellan,who called them 'las Islas de las Ladrones' or the islands ofthieves; because the Indians stole everything made of iron withintheir reach. At the latter end of the seventeenth century, theyobtained the name of Marianne from the Queen of Spain, who sentmissionaries thither to propagate the Christian religion. Guajan isthe largest island of the group. Near the Ladrones lies the famouspyramidal rock called 'Lot's wife.' A sea neither broken norinterrupted for an immense space in all directions, here dashes withsublime violence on the solid mass which rises almostperpendicularly to a height of 350 feet. On the south-east side is adeep cavern, where the waves resound with a prodigious noise."

MR. BARRAUD. "The Philippine Isles fall to my share. They are,correctly speaking, in the Eastern Archipelago. Luzon, the mostnortherly, is the largest: it is a long narrow island, and, like allthe others, abounding in volcanoes. Gold, iron, and copper have beenfound in the mountains, and rock salt is so abundant in some partsas to be an article of export. These islands are exceedinglymountainous and fertile, but from the large swamps are veryunhealthy. There are no beasts of prey, but numerous herds ofcattle; the inhabitants, however, are too indolent to profit bythese gifts of nature; they are actually too idle to make theircow's milk into butter, and throughout the islands use hog's lardinstead, because they will not be at the trouble of keeping andmilking the cows. Rice is the chief support of the population.Sugar, coffee, and many other delightful things grow here, andcotton shrubs thrive well. Manilla is the only port of trade in thePhilippines: it is a fortified city inhabited by people from allparts of the world. This city is entered by six gates. The streetshave carriage ways and footpaths, and are lighted at night. Thehouses are solidly constructed, but, on account of earthquakes,seldom more than one story above the ground floor. Most of thehouses are furnished with balconies and verandahs; the place ofglass in the windows is supplied by thin semi transparent pieces ofshell, which though more opaque repel heat better. In the year 1762Manilla was taken by the English; but ransomed by Spain for 1,000000_l_. sterling. There! who can compete with my islands in value?"

MRS. WILTON. "Quantity must compensate for the loss of quality. Hereare the Caroline or New Philippines,--forty-six groups of them,comprising several hundred islands. A few of them are high, risingin peaks, but by far the greater number are merely volcanicformations. They were discovered in 1686, by a Spaniard, who namedthem after Charles II. of Spain. There are no hogs on these islands,and the inhabitants subsist chiefly on fish. They are reputed to bethe most expert sailors and fishermen in Polynesia; and,notwithstanding the tremendous sea by which they are surrounded,they have a considerable trading intercourse with the Ladrone andmany other islands."

GEORGE. "Papa, it is your turn again.--Pelew Isles."

MR. WILTON. "They are chiefly known from the accounts of CaptainWilson, who was wrecked on them in 1783. He describes theinhabitants as hospitable, friendly, and humane; and they are a gayand comparatively innocent people; but they do not appear to haveany form of religion, although they conceive that the soul survivesthe body. These islands are covered with close woods. Ebony growsin the forests. Bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees are in abundance.Cattle, goats, poultry, &c., have been sent there and thrive well.The Pelews have a considerable trade with China.

"Now it seems to me that we had better cross the equator with allexpedition, for there are so many islands up here, we cannotpossibly go to all, and I think we have noticed the most important."

DORA. "South Polynesia then. Papua or New Guinea is my portion, andit happens to lie near the Pelew Isles. It is supposed to be thefirst part of Australia discovered by Europeans, and is the favoriteresidence of the superb and singular birds of paradise, of whichthere are ten or twelve kinds. There are three kinds reckoned themost gorgeous: viz., the King, which has two detached feathersparallel to the tail, ending in an elegant curl with a tuft: theMagnificent, which has also two detached feathers of the same lengthwith the body, very slender, and ending in a tuft: the GoldenThroat, which has three long and straight feathers proceeding fromeach side of the head. These birds are considered the best, but theyare all arrayed in brilliant colors, and all superbly magnificent.They are caught chiefly in the Aroo Isles, either by means ofbird-lime, or shot with blunted arrows. After being dried with smokeand sulphur, they are sold for nuts or pieces of iron and carried toBunda."

EMMA. "The New Hebrides are in my course, but the Friendly Isles areallotted to me."

MRS. WILTON. "Nevertheless, the New Hebrides claim a few words.They were discovered in 1506, and so named by Captain Cook. They areconsiderably hilly, and well clothed with timber. The valleys areextremely abundant, producing figs, nutmegs, and oranges, besidesthe fruits common to the rest of Polynesia. The inhabitants presentthe most ugly specimen extant of the Papuan race; the men wear nocovering, and the women, who are used as mere beasts of burden; wearonly a petticoat, made from the plantain leaf. Their canoes are morerudely constructed than in most of the other islands; and, on thewhole, these people seem to be among the most degraded of theislanders of the Pacific."

EMMA. "I should not like to live with such people; therefore we willpass on to my _Friendly_ Islands. They are low and encircled bydangerous coral reefs; the soil is almost throughout exceedinglyrich, producing with very little care, the banana, bread-fruit, andyam. The population may amount to about 90,000; but the natives,though favorably mentioned by Captain Cook, appear to be astreacherous, savage, and superstitious as any in the worst parts ofPolynesia. The Wesleyan Missionaries established themselves in theseislands in 1821, and are reported to have met with considerablesuccess. The leading island is that which is called Tongataboo, orthe 'consecrated island.' The name is properly two words 'TongaTaboo,' signifying 'Sacred Island,' the reason of which appellativewill appear, when I tell you that the priest of this island, whosename was Diatonga, was reverenced and resorted to by all thesurrounding islands. Earthquakes are very frequent here; but theislands display a spectacle of the most abundant fertility. Thefoundations of this group are coral rocks, and there is scarcely anyother kind of stone to be found. Tongataboo has a large andexcellent harbor, which admits of being well fortified."

GRANDY. "You wisely passed the Feejees, Emma; and I will explain whyI say _wisely_. They have the reputation of being cannibals; butthey are industrious, and at times kindly; and their islands aretolerably fertile. A missionary ship was nearly lost here, in broaddaylight and calm weather, by coming in contact with a reef, ofwhich no previous warning was presented. George, my child, you arenext; what have you selected for your display?"

GEORGE. "The Society Islands, Grandy. They consist of six large andseveral smaller islands. The principal is called Otaheite, or moreproperly, Tahiti; which is often styled the 'Queen of the Pacific.'The whole circumference of this royal isle is 180 miles; on allsides, rivers are seen descending in beautiful cascades, and theentire land is clothed, from the water's edge to its topmost heightswith continual verdure, which for luxuriance and picturesque effect,is certainly unparalleled."

CHARLES. "Excuse me interrupting you, George; but how do youcontrive to remember all those long words?"

MR. WILTON. "I have heard of honorable members being taken to taskfor ignorance, but never for possessing superior abilities, and Isuggest that the learned member be allowed to proceed with hisaccount, without further interruption."

GEORGE. "There, Charles, you are called to 'order,' and I hope youwill not commit yourself again, by trying to break the thread of mynarrative."

CHARLES. "I am full of contrition; pray proceed, and I trust youwill find no great difficulty in joining your _thread_ again. If youare disposed to retaliate, I give you free permission to criticizeme to any extent when my turn comes."

GEORGE. "Never fear but I will watch for an opportunity. The SocietyIslanders are light-hearted, merry, and fond of social enjoyment,but, at the same time, indolent, deceitful, thievish, and addictedto the excessive use of ardent spirits. The highest ambition of anOtaheitan is to have a splendid 'morai,' or family tomb. Thefunerals, especially those of the chiefs, have a solemn andaffecting character. Songs are sung; the mourners, with sharks'teeth, draw blood from their bodies, which, as it flows, mingleswith their tears. An apron, or _maro_ of red feathers, is the badgeof royal dignity, and great deference is paid to the chiefs. Thesepeople manufacture handsome cloths and mats; but the commerceconsisting of pearl-shells, sugar, cocoa-nut oil, and arrow-root, inexchange for European manufactures, is carried on chiefly byforeigners, as the natives have no vessels larger than their doublecanoes. Otaheite is a fine place, but not so important a commercialstation as Oahu, in the Sandwich Islands. There, Charles, I am atthe end of my thread."

GRANDY. "And very well you have spun it, George; but as you have notinformed us on the subject of the religion of these islanders, Ipresume it is unknown to you. They believe in a sort of deity, thathe resides in the palace of heaven, with a number of otherdivinities, who are all designated 'children of the night.' Theforms of Christian worship are enforced here as rigidly as in theSandwich Islands; but civilization is considerably less advanced;although I am happy to add, in conclusion, that the people areundergoing a remarkable change, and Christianity is certainlygaining ground; for the idols are being destroyed, and the labors ofthe zealous missionaries are now sanctioned by the highestauthorities. We will make no more remarks on the Society Islands;for they have formed the subject of more writings, perhaps, thanmany a kingdom of Europe, and the Otaheitans are positively betterknown to us than the inhabitants of Sardinia or Corsica."

CHARLES. "Most willingly; but it will be a short one, as I have verylittle material. Pitcairn's Island stands alone near the easternextremity of Polynesia. It is chiefly interesting on account of itshaving been the refuge of the mutinous crew of Captain Bligh's ship,the 'Bounty.' The mutineers, after having turned their captain and afew of the crew out in an open boat, tried to make a settlement inthe Society Islands; but failing, they, accompanied by someOtaheitans, fixed themselves in this isolated spot. They landed herein 1790, fifteen men, and twelve women. Nine of the men weremutineers; all the others were Otaheitans. Captain Beachey visitedthe island in 1825, and found about sixty persons on it, thedescendants of Captain Bligh's men. Pitcairn's Isle is a little spotnot more than seven miles in circumference, with an abrupt rockycoast. I believe the reason there are so few persons on the island,is accounted for by the dismal fate of the original settlers. Thesailors had married Otaheitan women, whose brothers in one nightmurdered them, only one escaping, whose name was Adams. On thefollowing night, the Otaheitan widows of the English inflicteddreadful vengeance, by murdering all their brothers who hadcommitted the first frightful deed. Their children grew up under thefostering care of Adams, who officiated as a sort of patriarch. Thepresent population comprises about eighty individuals, who form aninteresting link between the European and Polynesian races."

MR. WILTON. "In a Bermuda paper of August, 1848, there is aninteresting letter from a school-master named Nobbs, which is soreplete with information, that I will read it all to you, as it isnot so remarkable for its length as its interest:--

"More than twenty years ago, I left England for the express purposeof visiting Pitcairn's Island, and to remain there if I could rendermy talents available to the inhabitants. The proprietor of a smallvessel of but eighteen tons' burthen, hearing me express my anxietyto obtain a passage to Pitcairn's Island, remarked, it was a spot hehad long desired to visit, and if I would assist him in fitting outhis vessel, he would go with me. I accepted his proposal advancedhim what money I could command, and embarked from Callao de Lima,with no other person than the owner of the little cutter; and in sixweeks arrived here (Pitcairn's Island) in safety.

"'Five months after my arrival, John Adams departed this life. Afterhis decease, the superintendence of the spiritual affairs of theisland, and the education of the children, devolved on me chiefly;and from that time to the present (with the exception of ten months,during which period I was banished from the island by brute force,and recalled by letters of penitential apology), I have been withthem, and have lived to see the labor of my hands prosper; for thereis not a person on the island, between the ages of six years andtwenty-five, who has not received, or is not receiving, a tolerableeducation.

"'There is one untoward but prominent object on the horizon ofpaternal affection, and which, though imperceptibly, yet rapidlyapproaches our increasing colony, and that is the imperiousnecessity of a separation; for so very limited are the availableportions of the island, that some families who number ten or twelvepersons, have not five acres of arable land to divide among them.

"'Animal food is a luxury obtained with difficulty once or twice inthe week; and though we have, by dint of very hard labor, beenenabled to obtain cloth and other indispensable necessaries fromwhale-ships, in exchange for potatoes, yet this resource isbeginning to fail us; not from scarcity of visitors, but frominability on our part to supply them.

"'This is the exact state of affairs at present: how much it will beaggravated ten years from this, may be imagined, but cannot be fullyrealized even by ourselves. Whether the British Government willagain interest itself in our behalf, is doubtful; if it does not,despite the most assiduous industry, a scanty allowance of potatoesand salt must be the result, and the "Tibuta" and "Maro," will bethe unchanging food and raiment of the rising generation.'"

GEORGE. "What a pity the coral insects have not been at work there,and enlarged these poor peoples' island; then they could have allremained together, and brought up their families. As it is, some_must_ migrate. Charles, you are very ingenious; cannot you contrivea plan for overcoming these difficulties."

CHARLES. "Much as I should glory in benefiting mankind, I could notby any effort or sacrifice ameliorate the condition of these poorpeople, although I would willingly do anything in my power totestify my sorrow for their wretched destitution."

DORA. "I fear none of us can accord them more than our sympathy; sowe must needs journey on to the Marquesas, which were discovered bythe Spaniards in 1595. There are thirteen. The largest, Nukahiva, isabout seventy miles in circumference, and is the only one generallyfrequented by shipping. The coast scenery is neither picturesque norinviting; its principal features being black, naked cliffs, orbarren hills; but in the interior are grassy plains and forestsfilled with birds of elegant plumage. The inhabitants, with regardto personal beauty, are superior to most of the Polynesian tribes,some of the women being almost as fair as a European; incivilization, however, they are far behind the Sandwich Islanders.They have steadily resisted all attempts to convert them toChristianity, and have practised cannibalism within a very recentperiod. The tattooing of the Marquesans is remarkable for itsregularity and good taste."

CHARLES. "You call them Marquesans, Dora? I thought they wereKannaks."

DORA. "So they denominate themselves: but I have more to tell youyet. They are all excellent swimmers; men, women, and children. Theythrow themselves fearlessly into the water several times a day, and,although in a state of perspiration, they suffer no harm. They arealso dexterous climbers of trees; making the ascent like monkeys,with the hands and feet only. But their treatment of their sick is,in the highest degree, cruel and unnatural. Instead of givingassistance, every one shuns the invalid; and if he is thought to beat all in the way, he is taken to some distant spot, whither it isthought sufficient to carry him food at intervals. It is also theircustom to prepare the dying man's coffin before his eyes; and whatis still more incredible, when they see him about to render up hislast sigh, they place a bit of moistened 'tapa'[17] in his mouth,whilst the fingers of some _friend_ are employed in closing the lipsand nostrils!"

[Footnote 17: Tapa is a species of stuff made from the inner bark ofthe mulberry-tree.]

GRANDY. "All this appears very unfeeling to us my dear; but crueltyis not the intention of the poor Kannaks. They believe that the soulescapes with the parting breath, and their desire is to secure thespirit within the body until the body wastes; when, according totheir doctrine, it animates another body, which, during the processof decomposition in the old one, has been created in a far distantisland, where all the good things of this life are found inabundance, and the soul flies thither as soon as its old habitationis destroyed."

EMMA. "Poor people! What a lamentable state of ignorance! How I pitythem. Are there any more miserable people to be visited here?"

CHARLES. "Well, here are the Low Islands to the south of theMarquesans; but I have not the pleasure of an acquaintance with thepeople, therefore I cannot say if they be happy or miserable.Gambia, Crescent, and Clermont Isles are the principal. Gambiacontains upwards of a thousand inhabitants. Crescent Isle is notvery fertile, and occupied by a few natives, who have erected littlehuts their, and procure a scanty subsistence."

MR. BARRAUD. "Those islands were discovered by the ship 'Duff,' whenon a missionary voyage in the year 1797. We shall have to retraceour steps to come to the large islands in our chart; but EasterIsland is so near, it may be as well to call; although we may gainnothing by the visit, for it is a sterile spot inhabited bydemi-savages, who worship small wooden deities. They tattoothemselves so as to have the appearance of wearing breeches. Most ofthem go naked; some few wear a _maro_ which is made either of fineIndian cloth of a reddish color, of a wild kind of parsley, or of aspecies of sea-weed."

GEORGE. "There are more small islands before we go to New Zealand orAustralia, and I have an account of one,--viz., New Caledonia, lyingsouth-west of the New Hebrides. It is rather a large island, rockyfor the most part; and there not being much food for animals, veryfew are found there. One, however, must be mentioned. It is a spidercalled a 'nookee,' which spins a thread so strong, as to offer asensible resistance before breaking. This animal (for I havediscovered that a spider is not an insect) constitutes part of thepeople's food. The inhabitants are cannibals from _taste_. They eatwith an air of luxurious pleasure the muscular parts of the humanbody, and a slice of a child is esteemed a great dainty. Horriblewretches! They wear no clothes; the women just have a girdle offibrous bark, and the men sometimes encircle their heads with afillet of sewed net-work or leaves, and the hair of the vampirebat. Their houses are in the form of beehives, and the door-postsare of carved planks."

DORA. "New Zealand, almost the antipodes of England, lies in theSouth Pacific, and consists of two large islands, the extreme pointsof which are called North and South Cape. Near North Cape is NorfolkIsland, where the English, at one time, had a flourishing colony,now removed to Van Diemen's Land. We must all help to work our shipround these larger islands, for no individual can be responsible forthe entire management."

MRS. WILTON. "I will set the example. New Zealand was discovered byTasman in 1642; but its extent and character were ascertained byCook in his voyage of 1774. It is now a regularly established colonybelonging to the British crown. There is a bishop, several clergymenof the Church of England, and many other missionaries residentthere. It is a fertile group, but contains several active volcanoes.In the north island, or New Ulster, are various cavities, whichappear to be extinct craters; and in their vicinity numerous hotsprings are to be met with; some of them, as they rise to boilingpoint, the natives use for cooking."

GRANDY. "The New Zealanders belong to the Malay family: they are afine handsome race, and possess fewer of the vices of the savagethan almost any other savage people. The Missionaries have beeneminently successful in the conversion of the natives toChristianity. The first establishment formed there, was commenced inthe Bay of Islands, at a village called Rangiona, in 1814. Thepersons were sent out by the Church Missionary Society, and havenever relaxed in their endeavors to promote the laudable work ofconverting the heathen natives from the error of theirsuperstitions, although they have had numerous difficulties toovercome. They went out, in the strength of the Lord, resolved to donothing in strife or vain-glory, but all in lowliness of mind,esteeming others better than themselves: and they succeedednotwithstanding the numerous hindrances; for the work was of God,and He gave them power to do all things without murmuring, in orderto attain the salvation of the souls of their fellow-creatures."

MR. BARRAUD. "The Bay of Islands is quite in the north, and has beenfor the last thirty years the favorite resort of whale-ships.Upwards of thirty vessels have been anchored there at the same time;and at this bay the chief intercourse between European vessels andNew Zealand has principally taken place. Numerous islands aresprinkled over the space, and several creeks or entrances of riverspenetrate the surrounding country. It is on the north and west sidesof this bay that the principal territories of Shunghee, the NewZealand chief who visited this country, are situated; and in thesespots the horrid rites of this superior race of savages have alsobeen witnessed."

MR. WILTON. "It is remarkable that when New Zealand was firstdiscovered, there were no animals whatever on the islands except afew species of lizards, which quadrupeds the inhabitants held ingreat veneration and terror. Even the rat and dog were introducedby Europeans; and the rat is at present the principal species of_game_. A good many parrots, parroquets, wild ducks, pigeons oflarge size and fine flavor, inhabit the forests; and poultry arefound to thrive very well, though not yet reared to any greatextent. Indeed, if we except their prisoners of war, (for the NewZealanders _were_ cannibals,) almost the only animal food hithertoused by them has been fish, which abounds around their coasts."

GEORGE. "They must be right glad that Europeans have visited them."

CHARLES. "I understand that when pigs were first introduced into NewZealand, the natives, not knowing what animals they were, nor whatwere their uses, mounted two, and forthwith rode them to death! Theyhad seen some horses on board Captain Cook's vessel, and supposedthe pigs to be for the same purpose."

MRS. WILTON. "The New Zealanders are a fine race, but not exemptfrom vice. They do not regard lying or stealing as crimes, and areremarkable for their propensities to make use of thesequalifications on every available occasion. Captain Cook relates aninstance which will give you a tolerable idea of the nativecharacter:--He had been purchasing a great quantity of fish from thenatives. He says, 'While we were on the traffic, they showed a greatinclination to pick my pockets; and to take away the fish with onehand which they had just given me with the other. This evil, one ofthe chiefs undertook to remove, and with fury in his eyes made ashow of keeping the people at a proper distance. I applauded hisconduct, but at the same time kept so good a look-out as to detect_him_ picking my pocket of a handkerchief, which I suffered him toput in his bosom, before I seemed to know anything of the matter,and then told him what I had lost. He seemed quite ignorant andinnocent, until I took it from him; then he put it off with a laugh,acting his part with so much address, that it was hardly possible tobe angry with him; so we remained good friends, and he accompaniedme on board to dinner.'"

EMMA. "But they are better now, are they not?"

MRS. WILTON. "Very slightly in these points, my dear; and still lessso as regards their superstitions. Generations to come may be freefrom these vices; but at present they are too deeply rooted to bediscarded altogether. They have some curious and simple notionspeculiar to themselves, and some extraordinary legends concerningnatural objects of earth, sea, and sky. They account for theappearance of the face in the moon thus:--They say, 'A native girl,named Rona, went with a calabash to fetch water. The moon hid herpale beams behind dark and sweeping clouds. The maid, vexed at thisuncourteous behavior, pronounced a curse on the celestial orb; butas a punishment, for so doing, she stumbled and fell. The moondescended--raised the maid from the ground, and took her to resideon high, in her realms of silvery light.'"

MR. BARRAUD. "A curious idea: they have many such. I remember ananecdote of a chief who lost a son for whom he grieved greatly; butone day a European met him, and observed he was very merry: heaccosted him, and inquired the cause of so sudden a discontinuanceof his grief. The chief replied, he had passed a bush some few dayspreviously, when his late son, who had inserted himself into thebody of a little Tikan bird, whistled to him, and bade him dry uphis tears, as he felt perfectly satisfied with the quarters he thenoccupied. 'Shall I grieve at his happiness?' added the old man."

DORA. "There is a sweet simplicity about that little story whichprepossesses me in favor of these New Zealanders, although they wereonce such horrible cannibals. Do they not tattoo very much?"

MR. WILTON. "The art of tattooing has been brought to suchperfection here, that it actually excites admiration. It is lookedupon as answering the same purposes as clothes. When a chief throwsoff his mats, he seems as proud of displaying the beautifulornaments figured on his skin, as a civilized dandy does of hisfashionable attire. Mr. Earle speaks of a man named Aranghie, aprofessor of the art of tattooing, thus:--'He was considered by hiscountrymen a perfect master in the art, and men of the highest rankand importance were in the habit of travelling long journeys, inorder to put their skins under his skilful hands. Indeed, so highlywere his works esteemed, that I have seen many of his drawingsexhibited even after death. A neighbor of mine very lately killed achief who had been tattooed by Aranghie, and appreciating theartist's work so highly, he skinned the chieftain's thighs, andcovered his cartouch box with it!--I was astonished to see with whatboldness and precision Aranghie drew his designs upon the skin, andwhat beautiful ornaments he produced: no rule and compasses could bemore exact than the lines and circles he formed. So unrivalled is hein his profession, that a highly finished face of a chief from thehands of this artist, is as greatly prized in New Zealand as a headfrom the pencil of Sir Thomas Lawrence is amongst us. Such respectwas paid to this man by the natives, that Mr. Earle expresses thegratification he felt, on seeing the fine arts held in suchestimation by the savages."

MR. BARRAUD. "I do not doubt but the New Zealanders are stillcannibals in heart; for, so late as 1832, when Mr. Earle was there,he unfortunately had ocular proof of the fact. He had been residingwith them some months, when a chief claimed one of his (Mr. Earle's)servants, stating she was a runaway slave. He tied her to a tree andshot her through the heart, and his men prepared an oven and cookedher. Mr. Earle heard of it, and hastened to the spot. He caught themin the act of preparing some of the poor girl's flesh, andendeavored, in vain, to prevent the horrible feast; but to nopurpose; for they assembled at night and devoured every morselexcept the head, which he saw a hungry dog run off with to thewoods. The poor girl was only sixteen years of age, pretty andwell-behaved, and her murderer was one of the aristocracy of NewZealand, and, as Mr. Earle observes, a remarkably polite savage."

CHARLES. "We must bid adieu to these interesting savages, and passon to the last, but certainly not the least, of the Pacificislands.--viz. Australia."

MR. WILTON. "As all land is surrounded by water, and continentsdiffer from islands merely in point of size, and as Australia or NewHolland is in extent as large as Europe, and ten times larger thaneither Borneo or New Guinea, it is certainly more proportionate withcontinents than with islands; and it seems reasonable to classAustralia with the former rather than with the latter."

MRS. WILTON. "With Australia we close our investigations. To use anautical expression, it is, compared with Europe and Asia, almost aniron-bound coast. It possesses only two large indentations,--theGulf of Carpentaria on the north, and Spencer's Gulf on the south.Shark's Bay, on the west, and Hervey's Bay, on the east, are thenext in size."

MR. WILTON. "New Holland was discovered by Paulmyer de Gonville.That navigator sailed from Honfleur for the East Indies about themiddle of 1503, and experienced a violent storm off the Cape of GoodHope, during which he lost his reckoning, and was driven into anunknown sea. After sailing for some time, he observed birds flyingfrom the south, and, directing his course towards that quarter, hesoon fell in with land. This was thought to have been New Holland orAustralia."

MR. BARRAUD. "It is remarkable how extremely ignorant theAustralians are: they are certainly the lowest in intellect of thehuman creation. The tribes on the western shores of Spencer's Bayare positively ignorant of any method of obtaining fire: they saythat it originally came down from the north. Like the vestalvirgins, the women keep it constantly lighted, and carry it aboutwith them in firesticks when they travel: should it happen to goout, they procure a fresh supply from a neighboring encampment. Thentheir manners are so atrociously savage. Their mode of courtship isone which I fancy would not become popular among English ladies. Ifa chief, or any other individual, be in love, with a damsel of adifferent tribe, he endeavors to waylay her; and if she be surprisedin any quiet place, the ambushed lover rushes upon her, beats herabout the head with his 'waddie' till she becomes senseless, when hedrags her in triumph to his hut, and thenceforth she is his lawfulwife!"

GRANDY. "After that, you will readily credit the story I am going totell you. A Mr. Meredith went over with his goods to KangarooIsland, whence he journeyed across the bay to Yankalilly, where hebuilt a hut, placed in it a glass window or two, and made it looksnug. As he was a young man of about twenty-one or twenty-two, hiswarm, generous spirit had led him into difficulties; and, thefriends of his brief sunshine flying from him in his distress, hecontracted a disgust for the world. He lived some time amongst thesepeople, acquired their language, and seemed to be beloved by themall. But volumes might be filled with accounts of their treachery,and the sequel will sufficiently prove the malignity of thesewretched people. He had adopted one of their sons, and wasendeavoring to instruct him in a few points of education. He hadalso taken a native woman to assist him in household matters. Oneday he went out in his boat, and his favorite boy went with him.When in the boat, the boy complained of hunger, and Mr. Meredithgave him a biscuit. The boy commenced eating it, when Mr. Meredith(who was a religious man) observed that he had not thanked the GreatGod for the food,--a practice which he invariably endeavored toinculcate. The boy appeared unwilling to do so: Mr. Meredithinsisted, and on his refusal, he boxed his ears. The boy thereuponleaped out of the boat, and swam ashore, saying, he should repentit.

"In the evening, Mr. Meredith put his boat ashore, and went to hishut, had his supper, and was preparing for bed; and taking up aprayer-book, as was his custom, was reading the prayers before thefire, with his back to the door, when some natives looked throughthe window, saw their advantage, and opened the door silently. Thewoman, his attendant, then entered with an axe belonging to him inher hand, and several men followed her. She approached theunsuspecting youth, and, while his soul was devoutly engaged inprayer, she raised the fatal axe, and, with one blow, severed hisskull, and the men with their clubs beat his body into a shapelessmass."

EMMA. "Poor Mr. Meredith! What a frightful murder!"

MRS. WILTON. "The Australians thought nothing of it, for they gloryin the most atrocious deeds. I fear it will be long before they willbe civilized. But let us look at their country, of which, in somerespects, but little can be said; for it is not remarkable for itsfertility, and in many parts exceedingly barren. But few animalsrange there, and in the south-west the natives subsist during thewinter chiefly on opossums, kangaroos, and bandicoots, in the summerupon roots, with occasionally a few fish."

DORA. "Port Adelaide appears to be a neat town. Its harbor is a deepcreek or inlet of the sea, running out of Gulf St. Vincent: itcontains two spacious wharfs, alongside of which, vessels from GreatBritain, Singapore, Manilla, China, Mauritius, Sydney, Hobart Town,and New Zealand, are continually discharging their cargoes."

MRS. WILTON. "There are many lakes in Australia, but none of themvery large. Lake Alexandria is the largest, but it is very shallow;and Lake St. George, the second in size, which, in 1828, was a sheetof water 17 miles long by 7 broad, was said by an old native femaleto have been a forest within her memory, and in 1836 it was dried upto a grassy plain."

EMMA. "Does not Van Diemen's Land belong to New Holland, mamma?"

MRS. WILTON. "Yes, my dear; and the part nearest to it is New SouthWales, from which it is separated by Bass's Straits, which are 100miles broad, and contain a great many small islands. Van Diemen'sLand was discovered by Tasman, in 1644, and named by him in honor ofthe Dutch Governor-General of the East Indies: but it is now moreappropriately called Tasmania. This island contains severalmountains of considerable elevation. The highest is ascertained tobe 3964 feet in height. Hobart Town is the capital. The populationof Tasmania has of late years much increased, for, owing to itseligibility, the tide of emigration has been strong. For many years,three or four vessels have annually sailed from Great Britain, ladenwith emigrants possessed of more or less capital, and they have, inmost cases, prospered equal to their expectations."

GEORGE. "Are there not more coral reefs about Australia than in anyother part of the Ocean?"

GEORGE. "Yes, papa; they are the work of insects, who build them fortheir habitations; but it is very wonderful."

GRANDY. "It is wonderful, my dear; and there are many othermarvellous productions of the Most High God, so infinitely beyondthe power of man to produce, that, in meditating on them, the mindis lost in wonder and surprise. 'The most powerful, acutest, andholiest mind,' says a learned divine, 'will eternally be unablefully to find out God, or perfectly to comprehend Him.' May thesewonders then increase our reverence, and humble us before the mightyCreator of all things."

MR. WILTON. "Captain Hall examined some coral reefs during thedifferent stages of one tide, and gives the following description asthe result:--'When the tide has left it for some time, it becomesdry, and appears to be a compact rock, exceedingly hard and rugged;but as the tide rises, and the waves begin to wash over it, thecoral worms protrude themselves from holes that were beforeinvisible. These animals are of a great variety of shapes and sizes,and, in such prodigious numbers, that, in a short time, the wholesurface of the rock appears to be alive and in motion. The mostcommon worm is in the form of a star, with arms from four to sixinches long, which are moved about with a rapid motion, in alldirections, probably to catch food. Others are so sluggish, thatthey may be mistaken for pieces of rock; and are generally of a darkcolor, from four to five inches long, and two or three round. Whenthe coral is broken about high-water mark, it is a solid hard stone;but if any part of it be detached at a spot where the tide reachesevery day, it is found to be full of worms of different lengths andcolors, some being as fine as a thread and several feet long, of abright yellow, and sometimes of a blue color; others resemblesnails, and some are not unlike lobsters in shape, but soft, andnot above two inches long.'"

DORA. "We must be content to see these in imagination. But sometimesI feel disposed to regret that we are not _really_ afloat in the'Research;' and at other times I congratulate myself that the voyageis only imaginary; for in Polynesia particularly, we have met withso many ignorant, savage people, it is well for us that we can, ifwe choose, steer clear of them. I suppose it would not be possiblein all Europe to find a country where such unreasonable things weredone from religious superstition?"

GRANDY. "My dear Dora, you are very much mistaken. Europe has been,and still is in many parts, a slave to superstition; and, althoughnot savages, there are many vices and iniquitous deeds committed incivilized Europe, which no temptation would induce the savages ofPolynesia to commit. But, to assure your mind that horrible crimeswere perpetrated from zeal in the doctrines of their religion, Iwill give you an instance connected with Sweden in olden time. Thestory is told by a slave girl named Kumba, thus:--'My mother wasamongst the slaves of Queen Gunnild: she was the most faithful ofher servants. Poor and heavy was her lot, yet did she wish to live.My father was a free-born person, who thought little of forsakingthe woman who loved him, and the child she had nursed for him. Iremember a night--that night has stretched itself over my wholelife. Flames arose from a pile: they ascended high into heaven. Itwas the corpse of the Queen which was burned. My mother was amongstthose who tended the pile: she with many others was cast alive intothe flames. The Queen, it was said, needed her attendance in anotherworld. I stood amongst the people, still a child, and heard mymother's cry, and saw her burn! Fatherless and motherless, I wentthence into the world alone, and wandered in the woods withoutknowing whither. There came people who seized me, and carried meback to the Court of King Atle. They said that I wished to run away,and I was conducted to the presence of the king. I answeredhaughtily to his questions, and he caused me to be whipped till theblood came: in punishment, as he said, of my disobedience.' Is notthat barbarous enough for a savage land, Dora?"

DORA. "Oh yes, madam, that is very shocking. Poor, unhappy Kumba!What a life of wretchedness was hers."

MR. WILTON. "Grandy's story must conclude our conversation to-night.At the next meeting we will endeavor to explore the coast of Africa,and visit the islands of the Indian Ocean. Carry away the books,boys: I am sure you must all be hungry, and tired too, for we havebeen over an immense space of water.

"Right gaily our bark's glided over the ocean, Bright nature we've viewed in majestic array; But our own native shores we greet with emotion, For the heart of a Briton exults in her sway."

CHAPTER VII.

They journeyed at night In the pale moonlight, 'Mid sunshine and storm on they sail'd; Baffling winds and still calms Caused our friends no alarms, For Faith ever fearless prevail'd.

"It is of no use, Emma: I cannot do it. Girls are certainly a mostpersevering race of beings, and you deserve to be at the top of theclass; for, if you determine to accomplish anything, I believe noteven Mr. Stanley's knock at the door, or, what would be more to you,Dora Leslie's loving kiss, would make you swerve from your purpose.Ah well! You are quite welcome to the work; and if you are nottired, I know _I_ am, and these very _important_ articles may remainunpacked for the trouble I shall take. I wonder you are soparticular about them: what signifies how they are put in, if youcan but shut the box? It can be of no consequence; and yet you havebeen on your knees for the last two hours, arranging and placing,until I am positively weary with watching you."

"George! George! Where is your boasted patience? Your fellowtraveller in your anticipated voyage? Only see what a triflingexertion makes you weary and complaining. Now, suppose I actaccording to your sage proposition, and merely fill the trunk; wecan then both jump on the lid, and _make_ it shut--what think youwould be the effect?"

GEORGE. "Well, my most patient sister, I think it very probable thatmy microscope would be smashed to atoms, and all your little knickknacks reduced to a similar condition. But surely there is nonecessity for such violent means to secure the lid: let me see, Ihave no doubt it will shut quite easily."

"There, you see it will not shut," said Emma, as George in vainendeavored, by moderate pressure, to bring the lid to its properplace. "Now the things _must_ be arranged differently; and, if youwill only help me this once, we shall have done before Dora or Mr.Stanley or any one else knocks at the door: come, be my own goodbrother, and lay all these parcels carefully on the floor while Ifind places for them."

Emma looked so irresistibly kind and coaxing, that George once moregood humoredly set to work; and presently the carpet was strewedwith packages, apparently sufficient to fill three such trunks, butwhich Emma was determined should be snugly packed into one.

The articles might almost be arranged alphabetically, there was sucha miscellaneous collection; but the variety in their size and shaperendered it actually a puzzle to dispose them so as to allow spacefor all, without the hazard of any portion being crushed.

"Perseverance overcomes difficulties," said Emma, as she carefullydeposited the last paper, and turned the key in the lock.

"Hurrah!" shouted George. "Now we have done it. Well, really, I didnot think it possible: only imagine the number of parcels in thatone trunk, Emma! What a treat it will be when we get to Jamaica tounpack it all again. Oh dear! how I wish we were there!"

"Miss Emma, you are wanted," said Hannah, entering the room;"Mistress cannot find the books that came to-day, and she wants topack them up."

"Ah! it is nothing but _pack up_ now all day, and every room is inconfusion," said George, wearily. "Well, I am glad our share is atan end for _this_ day, for I am heartily tired of the business, andshall be thoroughly glad when there is nothing more left to _packup_."

"Oh! master George, how impatient you are," exclaimed Hannah. "Butcome, you have no time to be grumbling now. Only look at your dirtyfingers, and dinner will be ready in five minutes: why, you willscarcely be washed before the bell rings;" and the anxious maidbustled out of the room with her weary charge.

The mention of Mr. Stanley's name requires an explanation. On theprevious evening, when Mr. Wilton returned from his office, hebrought with him a letter, which he put into George's hand aftertea, desiring him to read it aloud. It was from Mr. Stanley, andGeorge almost shouted for joy, when he read that his dear, dearfriend was then at Liverpool, and hoped to be with them the nextday to dinner.

"What a grand muster we shall have to-night, George," said Mr.Wilton, while they were waiting the arrival of their expected guest."Why, we shall not find sufficient subject for so many speakers,shall we?"

"Oh yes! papa. Emma and I have been too busy, _packing up_, toprepare much. Besides, Mr. Stanley is sure to have a great deal totell: he has been away so long, and seeing strange countries all thewhile. But there he is! I saw him pass the window;" and away ranGeorge to embrace his beloved friend.

"What bright eyes and rosy cheeks!" exclaimed Mr. Stanley, kissinghis pet. "My boy has indeed grown since I was here: why you willsoon reach my shoulder. I suppose, when next I come, I must inquirefor Mr. Wilton, junior. But where is sister Emma, and mamma andpapa, and dear, kind Grandy?"

"Oh! they are all in the dining-room," replied George: "we were onlywaiting for you, sir."

Into the dining-room they went accordingly; and the welcome guestwas soon engaged, equally with the rest of the party, in discussinga hearty meal, and the various events that had taken place duringhis absence.

The hours flew like moments; and the arrival of the other membersquite astonished George, who had no idea it was so near seveno'clock. He was in high glee, as he assisted Charles in placing thechairs and books. But when Mr. Stanley, taking his hand, requested_permission_ to sit by his side, the proud and happy boy lookeddoubtingly into his face, not thoroughly comprehending the drift ofthe request.

"I am anxious to have the services of an experienced pilot throughthe stormy seas," said Mr. Stanley; "and if you are by my side,George, to direct me, I think I can manage to steer clear ofdifficulties."

"Now, you are joking," returned George: "why, you have positivelybeen to these very countries, and yet apply to _me_ for directions!But I understand the reason. You intend to make observations onsubjects _not_ geographical, and I expect you will be keeping asharp look-out on _my_ observations, to discover what progress Ihave made lately."

MR. STANLEY. "I perceive already that there is a decidedimprovement, my boy; and I candidly aver that I expect to be edifiedby these juvenile discoveries. Now to business--weigh anchor andstart. Who is pilot?"

CHARLES. "I have charge of the 'Research' for the present; but I amnot an experienced navigator, and if I happen to run you on a shoal,I hope all hands will help to get the vessel clear off?"

MR. BARRAUD. "We will make due allowance for your youth andinexperience, Charles. Now give your orders."

CHARLES. "The first voyage, we are to navigate the Indian Ocean,calling on as many Robinson Crusoes as we can find in the variouslittle islands: our second voyage is to explore the whole coast ofAfrica.

"Our ship was last at anchor off the coast of New Holland, and ournext stoppage will be at the Moluccas. The name signifies 'RoyalIslands,' and was given by the Arabs in the days of their maritimeprosperity. The principal are Celebes, Gililo, and Ceram. Dora,Emma, and George have patronized those isles, and will set forththeir various qualifications."

DORA. "Celebes is the largest of the Moluccas, and is a ragged,irregular-looking island, in shape similar to a star-fish. Theinhabitants are rendered active, industrious, and robust by anaustere education. At all hours of the day, the mothers rub theirchildren with oil or water, and thus assist nature in forming theirconstitutions. At the age of five or six, the male children ofpersons of rank are put in charge of a friend, that their couragemay not be weakened by the caresses of relatives, and habits ofreciprocal tenderness. They do not return to their families untilthey attain the age at which the law declares them fit to marry.Celebes was first discovered by the Portuguese in 1512; but theDutch expelled them in 1660, and it now belongs to them. Unlike mostof the other islands, it abounds in extensive grassy plains, freefrom forests, which are looked upon as the common property of thetribes who dwell thereon, and are carefully guarded from theintrusion of aliens. The people are Mohammedans."

GEORGE. "Gililo is Celebes in miniature, being of the same singularshape, and producing similar fruits. I have little more of itsadvantages to set forth. But near here is a portion of the Oceancalled Molucca Sea, which possesses a strange peculiarity. It is theperiodical appearance of a current of opaque white water, like milk,which, from June to August or September, covers the surface of thebasin in which the Banda Islands are situated. During the night itis somewhat luminous, which makes the spectator confound it with thehorizon. It is dangerous for vessels, for the sea seems to undergoan inward boiling agitation wherever it passes. During itsprevalence the fish disappear. This white water is supposed to comefrom the shores of New Guinea and the Gulf of Carpentaria."

MR. STANLEY. "You are slightly wrong, George, in stating thiscurious sea to be near Gililo. Gililo is _on_, the equator, and theMolucca Sea is at least 5 deg. _below_ the equator, and directly southof Ceram."

EMMA. "Ceram produces quantities of sago, and contains large forestsof those trees: they are extremely profitable, for one tree willsometimes yield as much as five or six hundred pounds of sago! Theoriginal inhabitants were called Alfoors, and, as some of the racestill exist, I will introduce them. The only dress of the men is agirdle encircling the loins. They fix bunches of palm leaves totheir heads, shoulders, and knees, and wear square bucklers, whichthey ornament with considerable taste. The eyesight of these peopleis uncommonly acute; and their swiftness is such as to enable themto chase the wild hog with success. Rats and serpents form part oftheir food. This island is equally fertile with the other Moluccas,and produces spices of all kinds, but particularly cloves andnutmegs. There are, happily, more Christians now to be found inCeram than there were a few years since: nevertheless the majorityare still Mohammedans, and barbarous in their habits."

MR. BARRAUD. "Yes. Very little improvement has taken place in themanners of the Alfoors. The young men, even to this day, adhere tothe savage practice of propitiating their intended wives, bypresenting them with the heads of five or six of their enemies. Inorder to seize their victims by surprise, they lie in ambush in thewoods, cover themselves with moss, and hold branches of trees intheir hands, which they shake in a manner so natural, that they havethe appearance of real trees: they then allow the enemy to pass,assassinate him by coming up behind him, and, cutting off his head,carry it away as a trophy. These murderers are received by thepeople of the village with all the honors of a barbarous triumph."

MR. STANLEY. "These identical Alfoors have a singular method ofevincing their respect for friends or visitors: as an instance: Oneof the kings (for the nation has _three_ to share the government)invited a Dutch missionary to an entertainment. When Mr. Montarnesarrived, he was received with great demonstrations of joy, andtreated by the king with the most splendid repast that theresources of the country could afford. When the meal was over, theking ordered a number of men armed with swords to step forward. Theyperformed a war-dance, and, after a few feats of this sort,commenced a serious fight: their swords clashed, blood flowed, andsome of their bodies were laid dead on the ground. The peacefulminister of religion, shocked at the horrid spectacle, entreated theking to put a stop to it. 'It is nothing,' was the reply: 'they aremy slaves! it is only the death of a few dogs! Happy shall I be ifthis mark of my high respect convinces you of my eager desire toplease you!'"

GRANDY. "Astonishing! that people with any belief in a superiorpower, should hold life in such low estimation; and, simply foramusement, deprive a fellow-creature of that which their utmoststretch of power cannot restore. Oh! may God, in his mercy, soonenlighten these wretched Alfoors, and write in plain characters onthe tables of their hearts--'Thou shalt do no murder.'"

CHARLES. "We now come to Java, one of the finest and mostflourishing colonies in the world. It is about 600 miles in length,and 90 miles average breadth; almost entirely volcanic; therefore,metals and precious stones are not to be expected. Iron is not to befound in Java; indeed, it is extremely rare in the wholeArchipelago; consequently it bears a high price, and the art of theblacksmith is held in a sort of reverence. The term for a son of theanvil signifies 'learned.' The inhabitants of this island tracetheir origin to a monkey, which they call 'woo-woo.' They are, forthe most part, Mohammedans, but not strict, as they will nothesitate to drink wine at the religious festivals."

MRS. WILTON. "The Javanese are remarkable for their veracity andlove of music: their ear is so delicate, that they readily learn toplay the most difficult and complex airs on any instrument. They areremarkable also for their superstition, and people their forests,caves, and mountains with numerous invisible beings of their owncreation. I will quote two instances of whimsical superstition,which took place in Java about thirty years ago. The skull of abuffalo was conducted from one end of the island to the other; thisskull was to be kept in constant motion, for a dreadful fate was toawait the individual who detained it in his possession, or allowedit to rest. After travelling many hundred miles, it reachedSamarang, where the Dutch governor caused it to be thrown into thesea. No person could tell how this originated; but no person refusedto obey while the skull was on _terra firma_. Again, in 1814, asmooth road, fifty or sixty miles long, and twenty feet broad,leading to the top of an inland mountain, called Sumbong, wassuddenly formed, crossing no rivers, but passing in an undeviatingline through private property of all descriptions. The population ofwhole districts was employed in the labor, and all because an oldwoman dreamed that a divine personage was to descend on themountain!"

"Oh! how very ridiculous!" exclaimed Charles. "Such silly peopledeserve to be imposed upon, for not using the faculties theypossess, to greater advantage."

GRANDY. "When once superstition usurps the throne of reason,Charles, it is a difficult task to displace her. There are so manypleasing fallacies connected with her sway over the naturallyindolent mind of man, that reason is altogether banished, andsuperstition's authority knows no bounds."

MR. STANLEY. "Java produces, in great abundance, the _Hirundoesculenta_, a species of swallow, whose nests are used as an articleof luxurious food among the Chinese. This nest has the shape of acommon swallow's nest, and the appearance of ill-connected